Calculates the Levenshtein (edit) distance between two strings.
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> Calculate the [Levenshtein][levenshtein] (edit) distance between two strings.
``bash`
npm install @stdlib/string-base-distances-levenshtein
`javascript`
var levenshteinDistance = require( '@stdlib/string-base-distances-levenshtein' );
#### levenshteinDistance( s1, s2 )
Calculates the [Levenshtein][levenshtein] (edit) distance between two strings.
`javascript
var dist = levenshteinDistance( 'frog', 'from' );
// returns 1
dist = levenshteinDistance( 'frog', 'froth' );
// returns 2
dist = levenshteinDistance( 'cat', 'kitty' );
// returns 4
dist = levenshteinDistance( '', 'abcdef' );
// returns 6
dist = levenshteinDistance( '1638452297', '2311638451' );
// returns 7
`
`javascript
var levenshteinDistance = require( '@stdlib/string-base-distances-levenshtein' );
var dist = levenshteinDistance( 'algorithm', 'altruistic' );
// returns 6
dist = levenshteinDistance( 'elephant', 'hippo' );
// returns 7
dist = levenshteinDistance( 'javascript', 'typescript' );
// returns 4
dist = levenshteinDistance( 'levenshtein', 'leviathan' );
// returns 6
`
*
This package is part of [stdlib][stdlib], a standard library for JavaScript and Node.js, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computing. The library provides a collection of robust, high performance libraries for mathematics, statistics, streams, utilities, and more.
For more information on the project, filing bug reports and feature requests, and guidance on how to develop [stdlib][stdlib], see the main project [repository][stdlib].
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---
See [LICENSE][stdlib-license].
Copyright © 2016-2026. The Stdlib [Authors][stdlib-authors].
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[stdlib]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/stdlib
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[umd]: https://github.com/umdjs/umd
[es-module]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Guide/Modules
[deno-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/string-base-distances-levenshtein/tree/deno
[deno-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/string-base-distances-levenshtein/blob/deno/README.md
[umd-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/string-base-distances-levenshtein/tree/umd
[umd-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/string-base-distances-levenshtein/blob/umd/README.md
[esm-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/string-base-distances-levenshtein/tree/esm
[esm-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/string-base-distances-levenshtein/blob/esm/README.md
[branches-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/string-base-distances-levenshtein/blob/main/branches.md
[stdlib-license]: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/stdlib-js/string-base-distances-levenshtein/main/LICENSE
[levenshtein]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levenshtein_distance